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Prostaglandin analogue punctum plug potential alternative to drops
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NEW ORLEANS — A study evaluating the efficacy of a punctum plug containing travoprost showed that it provided therapeutic benefit lasting at least 60 days, according to a poster presented here at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.
Robert J. Noecker, MD, and colleagues sought to evaluate plug retention and mean IOP change from baseline in 36 eyes of 20 patients at two sites in South Africa, according to the poster.
Each eye with glaucoma or ocular hypertension received an OTX-TPa (Ocular Therapeutix) in either the superior or inferior punctum. Only the eye with the higher IOP in each patient was included in the efficacy analysis, but all eyes were included in the safety analysis, the poster said.
The mean baseline IOP ranged from 23.7 mm Hg to 32.7 mm Hg, the authors reported. Patients were evaluated on days 3, 15 and 45 at 8 a.m. only, on days 30 and 60 at 8 a.m., noon and 4 p.m., and every 15 days after day 60 until the OTX-TPa was gone. Insertion and retention were safe and well tolerated.
According to the authors, the mean IOP reduction after 60 days was 23.5%, or 6.7 mm Hg.
“The OTX-TPa provided therapeutic benefit for the targeted duration of 60 days,” the authors reported. “The plug shows promise as an alternative to topical drops, with the potential of overcoming noncompliance.”
Disclosure: Noecker has relationships with Alcon, Allergan, AqueSys, Endo Optiks, Glaukos, Inotek, Lumenis, Merck, Ocular Therapeutix, Paradigm, Valeant and Zeiss.